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Genesee Va l l e y 
Fr u I T s 




by 

Raynr|or\d A. Pearson 

CorniTiissioner of Agriculture 
State of New York 



Tl-\e Rocl-\ester Cf)annber of Cornrnerce 



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111 



GENESEE VALLEY 
FRUITS 



At\ Address delivered at tl^e 
HoverT|ber Corporatiori Dir^er 
of tl^e Rochiester C\\an\ber of 
Corr\rf\erce by HoPi.Raynr^orid A 
Pearson, Conr\rriissior\er of Agri- 
culture of tt\e State of New York 

Hoverriber 20ti^. 1911 



Publisl^ed by 

Thie Roci^ester Cl\an\ber of Corrinrierce 

Rochiester, H. Y. 

1912 



INTRODUCTION 



Lack of 
Agricultural 
Knowledge 



Development 
of the 
West 



Stealing 
Fertility 



50 

Million 

Loss of 

Fertilization 



DC 



,^^ 



P;^ XV^ 



& 



IT is stated that the Rochester Chamber of Commerce is interested in the 
dissemination of information regarding the products of this Genesee 
Fruits Country. This is a worthy purpose for any organization. There 
is need for exploiting many features of agriculture in New York State. The 
ignorance existing among our people along this line is amazing. It seems 
that many otherwise well informed persons are twenty years behind the 
times in general information regarding agriculture. This should not seem 
so strange, however, when we know that many people are behind the times 
in their knowledge of most important affairs, even including those most 
discussed in our newspapers. 

^ It is harmful to our fruit-growing and general agricultural interests of 
today, to be judged by the conditions of the past. During a period of 
about twenty years, which ended only a few years ago, we were in bad 
shape from an agricultural standpoint throughout the entire east. This 
was due to the rapid development of the west. That development was a 
wonderful thing for the country and was supported chiefly by the farmers 
of the east. The support was magnificent, whether given intentionally or 
not, but, it practically undermined successful farming of all kinds in the 
east and for an extended period there was great depression. For a time, 
farm products had to be sold for less than cost, and, it was only that 
eastern farmers could draw on their reserve of soil fertility, transforming it 
into ready cash, that enabled them to stay in business. 

^ In 1893, corn sold as ^^w as 25c a bushel and each bushel carried 
away from the farm, 17c worth of plant food. In 1894, wheat sold at 
52 ^c a bushel and each bushel carried 23c worth of plant food. In 1896, 
oats dropped to i6^c a bushel with each bushel carrying loj^c worth of 
plant food. At the same lii-Jie.timothy hay sold at ^8.00 a ton with each 
ton carrying over I5.00 wo'-th of plant food. Eastern farmers lived by 
stealing fertility from their lands. 

^ Although the situation is not so serious now, yet the removal of 
fertility continues, and it is a problem that will need our serious attention 
in the future. 

^ It has been estimated that the value of plant food lost 
annually from our lands through consumption and sewage is 
not less than fifty million dollars in New York State. 



Page two 



APH 



RISE IN MONROE COUNTY VALUES 



DURING the period of depression, Monroe County suffered with others. 
The value of her farm property during the decade from 1870 to 1880 
fell from forty-three to thirty-eight and seven-tenths millions of dollars. 
During the next decade it fell in value another million ; at the same time, 
the State lost eighty-eight millions in value of farm property. From 1890 
to 1900, the value in Monroe County increased two and one -half millions, 
while in the State, it gained one hundred and one millions. From 1900 to 
1910, the value of farm property in Monroe County jumped from forty to 
practically sLxty millions of dollars, an increase of 49.3%; at the same time 
the value of farm property in the State increased from a little over one 
billion to nearly one and one - half billions of dollars, the increase being at 
the rate of 35.7%. During this decade of remarkable increases, the farm 
land values in Monroe County increased 42%; farm building values 52%; 
farm implement and machinery values 71%; farm animals, 74%. 

^ Today, agriculture is receiving more attention than ever, within the 
agriculture field itself, from the public generally and especially from the 
commercial bodies, such as the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. This is 
due to three things : 

FIRST — because of better prices for agricultural products. This 
stimulates producers and leads to increasing values of farm property. 

SECOND — because of the belief among consumers that the increased 
cost or living is due to the increased cost of farm products. It would be 
interesting to show what a small part of the consumers' money finds its way 
to the producer and how Utile a slight increase in price to the producer 
actually affects the cost of living ; yet we do admit that increased prices 
received by farmers affect the cost of living. 

THIRD — Agriculture is receiving attention from commercial men 
because of their interest in the general welfare, and because they 
appreciate that by helping agriculture they are helping themselves. 

^ Aside from all other considerations, note what it would mean to 
business to have a slight increase in agriculture production. 

^ An increase of only one bushel of grain per acre on all 
improved agricultural land in the United States would require 
12,500 extra trains of 50 cars each for transportation. One 
can well imagine whp.t this would mean as an incentive to 
business, the stimulus being directed along the line from one 
industry to another until it covered the entire country and " 
affected practically every person. 



Decrease 

and 
Increase 

of 
Values 



Cost of 
Living 



12,500 

Extra Trains 

of Fifty 

Cars Each 

Needed for 

Increase of 

one Bushel 

per Acre 



Page tliree 



STANDING OF MONROE COUNTY 



Largest 

Producer 

of 

Apples 



First 

Place in 

Wheat 

Production 



THESE are reasons that justify us in promoting our agriculture. Then 
let us consider how best to proceed. Suppose we assume that we own 
Monroe County and all that is in it. What should we do to increase 
its agriculture ? The business man would say to take an inventory before 
we do anything else. And here we find a startling array of facts and figures. 

^ According to the latest complete census figures published, Monroe 
County stands, among other New York Counties : 

First in production of apples and nursery stock. 

Secotid in total production of potatoes. 

Second in total value of farm products. 

Second in total value of farm property. 

Third in orchard fruits. 

Third in dried beans. 

Third in miscellaneous vegetables. 

Fourth in small fruit, 
and when compared with other counties on basis of production per square 
mile, Monroe County is : 

First in nursery products. 

Third in orchard fruits. 

Third in potatoes. 

Fourth in total value of products. 

Fifth in oats, small fruit and dry beans. 

^ Director of Census, E. Dana Durand, has courteously furnished a pre- 
liminary report of production of Monroe County as recorded in the last 
census taken in 1910, and it is shown that this county has risen in ten 
years from 

Fourth to third in number of horses on farms 

Eleventh to fourth in number of swine. 

Fifteenth to tenth in total value of domestic animals. 

Seventh to third in total corn production. 

Seventh to third in oat production. 

Held first place in wheat production. 

Risen from fifteenth to sixth in rye production. 

Held third place in production of beans. 



^ Similar statements of wonderful development could be made for the 
neighboring counties. 



Page four 



PREEMINENCE OF GENESEE VALLEY FRUITS 



ARE these things known right here at home, or has our light been hid 
under a bushel ? Who knows of our great possessions and our greater 
possibilities ? We have all heard of the wonderful Hood River Valley 
of Oregon. The whole world has heard of it. And who has not heard of 
the famous Wenatchee V-alley in Washington ? But these are small and 
unimportant places when compared with the great fruit districts in this 
vicinity. President W. C. Brown tells us that five stations on the New 
York Central Railroad, not far from here, recently shipped more apples in 
one year than were shipped, not from the two valleys named, but from 
the entire states of Oregon and Washington combined. Does the world 
know this ? Is it known here at home ? How many know that Monroe 
County ranks first in apple production of all counties in the state ; yes, first 
of all the counties in the United States. Niagara, Wayne, and Orleans 
rank second, third and fourth of all the counties in the United States 
according to the last available census figures. 



Five 
Stations in 
New York 

State 

ship more 

Apples than 

the States of 

Washington 

and 

Oregon 

Combined 



^When the qtiality of fruit is considered, we have no fear of 
competition from the west, for it is recognized there as well as 
here that eastern apples are superior. 



^ Having taken the inventory as business men in possession of this 
great country, naturally our next step would be to advertise our product. 
This may be done in many ways, some more costly than others. The 
identity of your splendid fruit should be preserved so that you may receive 
the credit that is due you wherever it is sent. Instead of letting your fruit 
be absorbed into the world's great markets unlabeled or unknown or marked 
by so many different names that no one can remember them, why not have 
one trademark for the whole Genesee Fruits Country, which will be used 
only on the best ? Let a re.sponsible organization stand behind this and 
protect it, so that it will become as well known as " Rochester Made Means 
Quality." 



Trade -Mark 
the 
Fruit 



^ As business men, owning this county, we would give attention to the 
development of its resources, which would serve the same purpose as 
increasing its size. Formerly, a people desiring to increase their 
possessions, would go out and conquer their neighbors and add to their 
area. Now, we go out and conquer ignorance and add to our productivity. 
It is reasonable to say that the value of our agricultural products in this 



Advertise 



Page five 



AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS 



county, which was six and one -half million dollars in 1900, could be 
increased ten, twenty or thirty per centum. This would mean more money 
spent for farm labor, which is already one and one - half millions in Monroe, 
and more money spent for all kinds of merchandise as well as more 
produce to ship. 

^ We know how to bring about this increase of our fruit and agricultural 
crops. All that is needed is to interest the minority of farmers so that they 
will adopt the best known practices, which are now more or less in use by 
the majority of farmers in this section. These include the conservation of 
Farming fertility, growing of leguminous plants, cultivation, drainage, fertilizing. 

Experts spraying, pruning and packing. To secure the adoption of these 

agricultural virtues, some farmers will need to have expert advice close at 
hand, even on their own farms, and I think it would be for the best 
interest of our state if such advice were provided. This would not be 
paternalism, it would not suggest pauperism, nor is it more than has been 
done for other industries. It is merely a method of putting into practice 
knowledge that has been developed since many of our present farmers 
were young men. The plan of stationing an expert at a central point in an 
agricultural territory has been successful, especially in Canada and in our 
own state. His services are given freely to those in need of help. His 
work results in larger production of farm products. Already our state is 
doing much for the farmers through its College of Agriculture, Experiment 
Stations, Schools of Agriculture and Farmers' Institutes, but that the 
work should be extended in a manner to bring it nearer to those who need 
it and in a manner that will assure concrete results, is beyond dispute. 



Teach 
the 

Children 



^ Our state also is doing much in the line of instructing children in 
agriculture. Lessons are introduced in the rural schools and special 
teachers are added to the staff of some high schools Everything possible 
should be done to interest country children in agricultural matters. Often 
this is the only way to reach the parents. If an expert were available in 
this section, he could arrange for children in different schools to bring 
samples of fruit or potatoes to be judged and discussed, and such efforts 
would be greatly encouraged if prize ribbons were provided. In such 
ways as these, the productivity of the county will be increased and the 
increase will serve the best interests of all. 



TRADE- MARK THE FRUTf 



THE business men of Rochester are noted for their clean methods, 
their enterprise and the successful outcome of whatever they set out to 
accomplish. They are entitled to great credit for the attractiveness 
of this city, a place traveling men and strangers like to visit, because they 
are so well cared for and because they find all surroundings so pleasant. 
And now it appears that these business men, in a determined way, will 
co-operate with the farming interests for mutual benefit. It would be 
difficult to prophesy what will be the outcome of such co-operation. I 
consider the business interests of the city fortunate in having at hand such 
a splendid field for operations, and I consider the agricultural interests in 
this vicinity fortunate in being able to command the attention of such a 
well organized and able body of business men. In closing, I would 
personify the Genesee Fruits Country and address a toast to her : 



^ I congratulate you Genesee Fruits Country. I 
salute you. Your superior is not known. These 
many years you have poured forth your bounty. 
We have grown up in your midst and have not 
appreciated your vast importance. But, as children 
love their benefactor, so we have loved you. Now, 
as never before, we realize your wonderful beauty 
and worth and power. We pledge you our best 
care and will sing your praises always. 



A 

Toast 



Page seven 



PURPOSES OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 



THE Rochester Chamber of Commerce is interested in 
increasing the productivity of the soil of this section 
of New York State, because : 
Rochester must feed its increasing industrial population. 
Rochester is the logical center of interest and activity of 
this fertile section. 



A 

Special 

Message 

to the 

Grower 



Therefore, the Chamber of Commerce is willing to spend 
time and money to accomplish the following ends : — 

To make a survey of the products of this section and to 
classify the information. 

To give information about the value and scope of the 
agricultural development of this section. 

To aid growers in their efforts toward co-operation and 
solidarity. 

To stimulate them to take the fullest advantage and the 
opportunities for marketing their products by improved 
methods of sorting, packing, labelling and advertising. 

To make known to the United States the vast food supplies 
within this section, thereby increasing sales and stimulating 
the most efficient methods of growing:. 



These things can be accomplished only by your co-opera- 
tion and cordial support — 

Which means that every reader of this book who is a 
grower should send his name and address to the Chamber, 
together with a list of his products, and any facts in connection 
therewith. From this a mailing list will be made up. 

Organizations throughout this section now working to the 
ends mentioned should supply us with their membership list, 
advise their special objects and keep in touch with the work of 
the Chamber. 

These things mean dollars to you. Do not set this aside 
for future action. Do it now. 



Page eight 



"N 26 1912 ,,^^^ ^ ^^^^^ 



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003 153 987 



